Pages

Wednesday, 30 November 2011

The big (peedie) tree

In our local 'big' toon, Kirkwall, - there is the 'Big Tree' which is a heritage tree in scotland and mentioned in Heritage Tree book. Heritage trees are all over the place - old, wide, tall, rare, "weird and wonderful", and trees with historical and cultural significance. Scotland has loads! And our one in Orkney, now while not a very huge tree - every time I go by I do give the big brute it a wee pat and a 'Hello'. Although to be fair it aint very big, more of a 'peedie' big tree. But, I'm glad its in there nevertheless - size is NOT everything.

And now its all held up like the rest of us with bits of support - there is a bit of a debate about whether it should stay - I think maybe they should take a detailed photo of it and put a life sized sculpture of it when it finally decides its off to the big tree heaven place in the sky. That way we can all enjoy it forever, can't we? Maybe if the tree is ever cut down, the wood from the tree could be seasoned and used by carving into lovely things to raise money for the sculpture - now there's a thought! How lovely to think of it creating its own heritage?

Here is the link to the 'Heritage Tree Guide' on the Forestry Commission site, although they are in alphabetical order and not geographic that I can see, but that means you get a browse through some quite fun trees on your way through.......have you got any famous trees near you? Having given up gardening - I'm taking up tree exploring.

18 comments:

I'd just moved down to the south coast of England in 1987, when the hurricane destroyed millions of trees .... in Brighton, one of the things they did with the bodies was to carve unique bollards and benches for the sea front. All that artistry and publicity really rejuvenated the front, which then seemed really downmarket and iffy. It was wonderful!

Bravo Tree Detective! I had to giggle because it really is a small tree as you said, but I imagine that it is difficult for trees to grow up there, with the wind that you have described in past posts. I live in the heart of a temperate rain forest. We specialize in evergreen trees. It's incredible, the forests and even more simply the wetlands with lanky cotton woods and big leaf maples. Here's a link to a set aside park that is a bit north of me. http://www.nps.gov/olym/naturescience/temperate-rain-forests.htm The pics will give you an idea of the trees here.

Hi Fay, Just heard on the radio that you will have storm force winds up there tonight (again). It's bad here too, but not THAT bad. If you give up gardening, and are determined on being a detective maybe you can help with 'Death in Orkney'? See http://uncannydeath.wordpress.com/ and also

Linnie (the wretch) has introduced a story with this title. It seems to involve poison and an axe. I'm going to have to use it somewhere, and was wondering about a plant biologist who was driven to madness and murder by the constant wind...??

We're lucky enough to live near the Forest of Dean and there are some very old trees there. I feel quite sorry for the tree it really does look like its on its last legs. I really like the idea of creating a statue of the tree but hopefully it'll keep going for a while yet. It must be a difficult life for a tree up there with all the winds you get.

Catching up with my reading again here Fay. I say that tree needs saving. It must be so nice in summer, and I love the winter silhouette. A bronze one would be okay if it DIES OF NATURAL CAUSES (Death in Orkney?) but otherwise uh-uh.

And Kininvie (the more Wretch than I) does need help-- a plant detective sounds about perfect...

How wonderful that everything is being done to save the tree, they are all so precious. When the time comes for it to be removed, hopefully not for a long time, I hope they follow your suggestion, great idea, and if you want someone to carve it, I'm your woman, have chisel, will travel !!

Pauline - how wonderful - if there's ever a need I'll make sure they get in touch! I agree saving a tree is so precious. I watched chaps cut down a perfectly (well to me it looked perfect) healthy tree (different one to this one) in the big toon last week - could hardly beleive it - trees of the kind of size which are cut down here I find really hard - doesn't make sense to me although I'm sure they did it for a reason. But it still made me sad.

Linnew - it is a beauty in an odd kind of a way - I really enjoy its tenacity - braced and all its a very special tree - guess thats why it made the heritage book. Kininivie and your murderous adventure has me a little scared - I fear a plant detective might not fair very well for very long in your tryst! Keep up the great work!

Wellywoman, Forest of Dean - how I'd love to see that I hear its gorgeous. Trees do take a bit of a battering here - common sycamores (Acer pseudoplantanus)do remarkably well here - they appear to get to a real decent height especially in the towns where they get more shelter.......There are a few very cool trees here - maybe we need a 'heritage trees of Orkney' book - wonder if there is one - or a 'tree tour'. There are some truly lovely trees here - just need to find them. For instance I saw a really decent sized 30-50 year old monkey puzzle (Arucaria araucana) last week in a town garden here........gorgeous framed against the sky. You just need to know where to find things I guess.....

Kininvie - I think these kind of winds would absolutely drive a plant person to murder. (This is not a confession by the way, no one here appears to be dead, yet). The winds indeed are again singing away to us I think I hear them say 'you shall NOT garden, you shall NOT garden'. Whilst I find the wind wretched, aside Linnews insistence that she has tiny brick people (http://linniew.wordpress.com/2011/12/01/the-tiny-brick-people-are-back/) making houses or sculptures under her paving - and is clearly insane (but in a nice way) I find her quite pleasant.

Enjoying both of your adventure very much. Like a decent game of chess............I never know quite what each of you will do next....!

Janet - Aye I heard that indeed too - but didn't know if it was just speculation more than actual reality. I must ask the lovely tree lady here what the deal is with it. I don't know when they braced the trunk - don't remember it always being like that............Its a hoot though isn't it - I thought it was fab when I saw it in the Heritage Tree book. How exciting. When I was little I lived near sherwood forest and saw Robin Hoods 'mighty oak' which you could get inside the trunk. Thats why I giggle at the Kirkall Big Tree - the trunks open enough for a peedie breeks to easily hide in there (well before the bracing it was) and it reminded me of being wee and hiding in tree trunks.

'Tother janet (Hello!) - yeah it does look a bit ouchy doesn't it - hopefully theres life in it for a while, it leafs up really well in spring. But if it does ever depart I hope there is something lovely done with it. :) x

Elephant Eye - thank you 'Meeting with Remarkable Trees' I think is the book you mean? I love the look of the garden you mentioned - remember reading a bit about it in one of your blogs (April?).

Another favourite tree of mine is the Fortingall Yew (http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Fortingall_Yew)- thought to be over 2000 year old and the most ancient European tree - Pontius Pilot is supposed to have been born in its shade......

Oh and the Meklieour Hedge (http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Meikleour_Beech_Hedges) - which whilst a real hedge - are a remarkable set of trees which make it up. We went by earlier in the year and the children did NOT believe me - that it did actually exist - so I took a detour and showed them. Ungrateful wretches were not convinced - they told me I was insane before they saw it.

Join me on Facebook

Hello and how are you? Thanks for popping by, I'm over on facebook. If you've a mind, pop over and see more daily rambles and haivers. Come say hello and if you've any garden questions, give's a shout. We're all chums after all.